Prosecution rests in 'loud music' murder trial

Feb. 12, 2014
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State Attorney Angela Corey, left, talks with Michael Dunn's defense lawyer, Cory Strolla, right, about the display of items found in the pockets of the victim Jordan Davis, held by Assistant State Attorney John Guy, center, on Day 3 of Dunn's trial Feb. 8 in Jacksonville, Fla. / Bob Mack, AP

by Gary Strauss, USA TODAY

by Gary Strauss, USA TODAY

Florida prosecutors Monday rested their case against Michael Dunn, a software engineer charged with the November 2012 murder of a black teen over a dispute involving loud rap music.

Dunn, 47, is standing trial for first-degree murder in the Jacksonville shooting death of Davis, 17. Dunn, who is white, has said he acted in self-defense when he fired 10 shots at an SUV Davis and friends were in. The highly charged case has drawn comparisons to the February 2012 death of Trayvon Martin, a black Florida teen killed during a struggle with neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who was eventually acquitted of second-degree murder.

Dunn's defense team planned to summon relatives of both the victim and the defendant Monday afternoon, including Davis' father, Ronald Davis.

Dunn's fiancee, Rhonda Rouer, earlier testified that she and Dunn had been drinking at the Thanksgiving weekend wedding of Dunn's son, Chris, before the shooting, with Dunn drinking several rum and cokes. As they pulled into the gas station,. Dunn reacted to the music coming from Davis' SUV.

"I hate that thug music,'' Dunn said to her before she entered the gas station to buy wine and potato chips, Rouer testified. She said she heard a series of popping noises, and when she returned to Dunn's car, she saw Dunn put a weapon back in the glove box. The pair left the scene of the shooting and returned to their hotel, where Dunn ordered pizza and they had more rum and cokes, Rouer said.

Monday, witnesses provided details over Davis' death as the prosecution attempted to bolster its case that Dunn's actions were premeditated.

The entry point and path of the bullet that killed Davis made it unlikely the youth was standing outside the SUV when he was shot, according to medical examiner Stacey Simons. That testimony appeared to counter defense attorney Cory Strolla's claim that Davis had threatened Dunn.

Davis likely died moments after the shooting. A toxicology expert said Davis had no signs of drugs or alcohol in his body.